Shaking the House and Burning the Devil; Simplifying Spring Cleaning
By: Karen Pfeiffer Bush, CEO
Spring cleaning is an age-old tradition worldwide. Modern Americans are not unique in the practice of airing out their homes and scouring and scrubbing the nooks and crannies neglected over Winter. Our Spring-cleaning is typically a practical effort rather than the ritual and spiritual tradition celebrated in many cultures.
Many Chinese people mark the New Year—the symbolic end of Winter with a cleaning ritual. Their homes are refreshed with a deep clean prior to the first day of the Lunar New Year. Not only is it an exercise in cleaning the physical environment but it’s also a symbolic and spiritual practice to eliminate the old and tired to make room for the new and fresh. It has as much to do with clearing as it does with cleaning.
In Iranian culture, there’s a tradition called khaneh takani, translated as “shaking the house.” For two weeks, the entire family works together to clean and clear the home in preparation for the emergence of Spring, a time of regeneration.
Some Guatemalans partake in a tradition which has much in common with our Spring cleaning, with an interesting twist. It’s called quama del diablo, “burning the devil.” They believe the devil resides in the dust and dirt, in corners and in closets. He is energized by garbage, junk and unused household items. Garbage is swept outside into a huge pile, sometimes shared by an entire town. A papier-mache Satan is placed on top of the heap. In grand form, the pile is set ablaze, burning the devil in effigy. While the environmental ramifications of this practice are suspect, the clearing of dirt and debris from the home is believed to purify the space, soul and spirit.
The above excerpt was taken from The Imperfect Perfectionist, Seasonal Secrets for a Happy Balanced Life by Michelle Babb, Wendy Lomme, Karen Pfeiffer Bush and Chieko Watanabe.
So, how do we clean and clear our homes in Spring without having to convince family to shake the house for two straight weeks or rally neighbors to torch our unused household items? The key is to work geographically and not try to tackle our entire home in one work session. Block out time over the course of a month—maybe three or four work sessions around two or three hours each. Start in a space that will have the greatest impact—maybe your kitchen or your bedroom. When your efforts make a difference in a high impact space, you will be motivated to keep going. Tackle each space by working geographically throughout it. Pick a corner, sorting, clearing and cleaning—shelf by shelf—drawer by drawer– until you gradually make your way through the whole room. Don’t move on to other areas until each section of a room and eventually the entire room is complete. Celebrate as you make your way through each room by allowing yourself to feel the peace that can come in a clear, clean, rejuvenated space. Happy Spring!
1920’s Historical Update
Design Style: Coastal Boho
It’s the final week of our Design Style series! We had fun interviewing the Housewarming team and sharing with you various fun and unique aesthetics. As we conclude this series, we want to stress the idea of design being a personal thing. It should take aspects of YOUR personality and how YOU need it to function into account and be defined by those traits, have fun coming up with your own creative title!
For our final week, we interviewed our sister company’s, S|365 Consulting and Design, director and lead design consultant Jacquelyn Rardin. Who described her personal style as Coastal Boho.
Jacquelyn is a strategic thinker, visionary interior designer, and collaborative leader with S|365. As Director & Lead Design Consultant, she oversees our commercial development & interior design division, supporting Senior Living and Multi-Family solutions. She proudly serves as mom, partner, weekend artist & D.I.Yer, and is a self-proclaimed bookworm nerd who dreams of someday owning a tiny home by the sea.
When asked to explain how she defines her personal style this is what she said.
“Eclectic. Colorful. Fun. Comfortable. I truly love surrounding myself with art, books, and found objects turned projects, especially from my travels, far or near. My environment takes on a somewhat bohemian aesthetic that seamlessly works, mainly because it just feels good and it embodies my treasured memories from over the years—from my grandmother’s antique coffee table where I used to play card games as a child to a playful figurine I picked up with my daughter at a Paris thrift shop to creatively displayed books I’ve collected and read throughout my life to pleasing textures, patterns, and materials that evoke my favorite place, the beach.”
Design Style: Modern Contemporary
It’s week four of our Design Style Series, we began by exploring the ways in which you can identify your own aesthetic, and how coming up with your own original label is completely acceptable. Need a refresher? read our blog here! “Identifying Your Design Style: It’s Not All in The Name”
This week we interviewed chief executive assistant Tylor Reighard, he described his personal design style as Modern Contemporary.
Tylor serves as Executive Assistant to CEO, Karen Pfeiffer Bush, coordinating speaking engagements & appearances, as well as managing client meetings and related activities. He plays a key role in coordinating on-site consultations, scheduling staging appointments, and lending insights to process & system development.
He describes himself as a simple person with a very extra personality. Tylor enjoys the simple things in life like wine and walks with his partner and adorable dog. He also enjoys summer hikes, cozy afternoons reading a good book or watching a short docuseries, cooking and traveling the world.
When asked to describe his personal style, this is what he had to say.
“My style is quite basic, I love clean lines and neutral soft colors. I would describe it as transitional/modern. My décor go-to’s are plants and simple framed images. I am a sucker for a succulent plant. I believe they can dress up any simple table or shelves. I also enjoy Scandinavian inspired fabrics. My style is a living room where you can feel comfortable sitting in, until you poor a glass of red wine and then you may fear staining the white couch (at least I do, even after its treated) Speaking of wine, the main reason I chose my first winery (Novelty Hill- Januik Winery) had nothing to do with the wine… I love the design and how comfortable I felt and wanted to bring that home and into my own living room (see right top corner of photo) I’ve since realized the wine is delicious and am still a member.”
Design Style: Organic Luxe
Continuing with our Design Style blog series, this week we cover interior designer, Mayra Garcia’s design style and why she has named it Organic Luxe.
Mayra supports interior design, and styling projects, with specialties in research & sourcing, programming, and staging. Mayra holds a BA in Interior Design from Bellevue College and is an active member of IIDA the International Interior Design Association.
Away from work, Mayra takes to the hiking trails with her fiancé, including a few recent favorites to Mount Storm King, and Mount Freemont fire lookout. Mayra also enjoys watercolor painting, especially flowers, and is a self-professed bubble-tea addict
My design style stems from my love of nature but also my love of things that sparkle hence the name organic luxe. Living in the Pacific Northwest has greatly influenced my personal esthetic, I love the mountains, the color of the evergreens, the misty horizon. Being in nature brings me peace and a sense of order, it’s a way to escape the chaos of everyday life. I like design that incorporates elements of nature either with colors, materials, shapes, or literal nature (plants!) I tend to gravitate towards darker tones, as well as simple neutrals.
I am also a person who appreciates subtle luxury, I really enjoy things that pop, statement pieces that add a little extra wow without being too obnoxious. I always need a little sparkle to feel complete.
Design Style: Treasured Transitional
On this weeks Design Style Series, we explore CEO, Karen Pfeiffer Bush, personal design style and why she calls it Treasured Transitional.
When not leading Housewarming, Karen enjoys downtime camping with her family across Washington State and “growing” her talents in urban gardening.
She’s had many summer adventures across 6 passes, plus road trips to Birch Bay, eastern Washington, Washington coast, and her personal favorite, Mt. St Helen’s.
Karen is also a published author, contributing writer, keynote speaker, and regular presenter on topics including senior living, rightsizing, real estate & housing trends, and philanthropy & capital campaigns.
When asked to describe her personal design style, this is what she told us.
“Transitional in design terms refers to the meshing of modern and traditional elements. Embracing transitional design has allowed my home to flex and flow with my lifestyle and the growth and development of my family. I have some large scale classic features and fixtures that have been consistent cornerstones for the 20 years that I have lived in my 110 year old home. I have mixed and matched, added and edited treasures as our lives have changed through time, trials and travels.
Seattle has been home to me for 27 years but the legacy of growing up on the beach in the Hamptons, stretching my wings in Colorado as a college student and living the dream on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan in my 20s runs deep in my design aesthetic. Generally, my larger pieces are clean-lined and neutral while accessories and artwork are more modern and eclectic telling the ever-evolving story of my life.”